Michael Bennett’s attorney on Houston case: He 'flat out didn’t do it'

The defensive end faces a single felony charge of injury to the elderly and his next court appearance is scheduled for April 23.

Michael Bennett’s lawyer has asserted the defensive end's innocence.

Attorney Rusty Hardin on Monday said almost everyone in the Patriots’ "family" section was scrambling to find a way to get on the field to celebrate the team's Super Bowl 51 victory at NRG Stadium and that Bennett didn't come in contact with the woman he is accused of shoving.

“He just flat-out didn’t do it," Hardin said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It wasn’t a case of, ‘He didn’t shove her that hard,’ or anything like that. … He never touched her.

"There were bunches of families going through that door. They all tried different places. Everybody sort of streamed through there. I’m not sure this woman knew who [shoved her]."

The 66-year-old paraplegic woman was working at NRG Stadium controlling access to the field when, according to a grand jury indictment, Bennett allegedly tried to force his way through security and onto the field after the Patriots' championship win over the Falcons in February 2017. Bennett was a spectator watching his brother Martellus play for New England.

Michael Bennett was taken into custody Monday in Houston after his first court appearance since being indicted by the Harris County grand jury for allegedly injuring the woman after the Super Bowl. His bond was set at $10,000 and he was issued a no-contact order by Judge Robert Johnson in the 177th Criminal Court before being taken away in handcuffs.

But Hardin insists he has witnesses who can confirm that Bennett was not involved in the alleged altercation.

Eagles vice president Howie Roseman says he has discussed the matter with Bennett, and that the three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher “is innocent until proven guilty,” which, the Inquirer noted, would seem to squash any speculation that the Eagles would release Bennett before the legal matter is settled.

“I think we’re in a great country,” Roseman said. “And in this country, people are presumed innocent, and I think we’ve got to be fair about that in all of these matters. I don’t think it’s fair in any situation to not give people the right to present their side. … Our overriding philosophy on things is people are innocent until proven guilty.”

Bennett surrendered to authorities after prosecutors announced Friday that he faces a single felony charge of injury to the elderly, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.